Dealing with a Spouse with a “Mild Cognitive Impairment”

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@defleurs I’m not a caregiver type either. And you’re not kidding, it’s hard!!! I find that when I try to have a conversation with him (yes, I get fooled into trying to pretend he’s himself) he usually has no response at all and I always say “ Did you hear me?” & he says yes and I ask why he didn’t respond- no response or “I didn’t know I was supposed to answer.” It’s very lonely losing your loved one in this way.
Wishing you well,
Linda

@vcawnjo08 "I am here" is so powerful and kind to many of us who continue to reach out on this site for support, help and guidance. With family members living their own lives, busy with kids, and the few friends, that just turn the other cheek to someone's memory loss, I'm working on creating as many memories with my husband as I can. For Father's Day, I went into storage (since we're living out of boxes in a rental), and pulled out a box that belonged to him, his family, baby pictures, his deceased parents and 4 brothers. I can't even begin to describe the joyful look on his face, and the emotion he showed, in a mind where on any given day, there are blank stares and confusion. I even put together a shadow box of some of those pictures for his youngest son (we're a blended family), to take with us to North Carolina this week. We spent hours going through pictures, reminding me, that sometimes the simpler things - depending upon what stage they're in - communicates volumes. Life through family pictures just like that documentary "Alive Inside," where music became the catalyst for an awakening for a man lifeless in his wheelchair, who heard the music, woke up, and started tap dancing his feet to the music. He remembered every step from his younger years on Broadway. I think for us as caregivers, moving off the grief to some memory that resonates, so we can find the joy that comes from what @memoriestomoments posted on this site. Seeing our younger days with family in that hidden box of treasure, lit up my husband in ways that made him feel so good. And for that, no grief, no worries, just a feel-good Father's Day. Best, Karla

@kjc48 Karla, how ironic, I got my husband a new digital frame for Father’s Day and he is so enthralled with it. It seems to have endless space and he had such a good time adding photos to it and still does. He raves about how much he loves it.
On a side note, I love reading what you write. You are so in tune with what is right and what is not okay. I feel like you are the perfect caregiver. Good job, Karla.
Linda

@kjc48 Karla, how ironic, I got my husband a new digital frame for Father’s Day and he is so enthralled with it. It seems to have endless space and he had such a good time adding photos to it and still does. He raves about how much he loves it.
On a side note, I love reading what you write. You are so in tune with what is right and what is not okay. I feel like you are the perfect caregiver. Good job, Karla.
Linda

@lkbous
My husband loves the Frameo our son bought us. It's the first thing he orients to in the morning when he gets up. A few times a day he'll stand in front of it and comment on who he sees.
Looking at photos is one of his greatest joys. ☺️ 📷

@judimahoney my husband has MCI. My son and daughter in law gave us a digital frame for Xmas and loaded all these family photos. It sits near our kitchen table so while we are eating we can see the photos, My husband can spend so much time in front of it looking at the photos as they pass by. It is like watching a tv show with just the family as main characters. He loves it. It is something I’d recommend for everyone.

@judimahoney my husband has MCI. My son and daughter in law gave us a digital frame for Xmas and loaded all these family photos. It sits near our kitchen table so while we are eating we can see the photos, My husband can spend so much time in front of it looking at the photos as they pass by. It is like watching a tv show with just the family as main characters. He loves it. It is something I’d recommend for everyone.